Murray faces sixth seed Humbert in Metz first round

Here are the draws for the two ATP 250 events this week – in Metz, France and Astana, Kazakhstan

Britain’s Andy Murray in action during his first round match at Wimbledon 2021 Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic

September 19, 2021

Former world No 1 Andy Murray will face sixth seed Ugo Humbert in the first round of the ATP Moselle Open in Metz, France this week.

34-year-old Murray is now ranked No 116 in the world and needed a wild card to enter the event. He reached the second round of the ATP Challenger in France last week and also put up a good show at the US Open – losing to third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a dramatic five-setter.

Murray and Humbert have met only once – in Antwerp in 2019 when the Brit won a hard-fought three-setter en route to the winning the title – his most recent on the tour.

The Metz draw is headlined by top seed Hubert Hurkacz, second seed Pablo Carreno Busta, third seed and home favourite Gael Monfils, and fourth seed Alex de Minaur – all of whom have first-round byes.

Former top 10 players from France – Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon – are also in the draw.

ATP250 Metz singles, doubles and qualies draws pic.twitter.com/LPcSzYzoNN
— Michal Samulski (@MichalSamulski) September 18, 2021

Karatsev and Bublik are top seeds at Nur-Sultan Astana Open

Meanwile, Australian Open semi-finalist Aslan Karastsev is the top seed over at this week’s ATP 250 event in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. The Russian is followed by home favourite Alexander Bublik, Dusan Lajovic and Filip Krajinovc – with all top four seeds enjoying a first-round bye.

Italian teen Lorenzo Musetti, who snapped a five-match losing streak by winning his first round at the US Open before going down in the second, and defending champion John Millman are also in the draw.